Electric connector.



E. B. WILCOX.

ELECTRIC CONNECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED ocr. I4, Isls.

Patented Oct. 17, 1916.

.50; 4 v y Details of the structure androther features UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEICE.

EDSON IB. IN'ILCOX, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC CONNECTOR.

To all whom t may concern: p

Be it known that I, EDsoN B. WILCOX, a

y citizen of the United States of America,re

' which the following is a specification.

The general objects of this invention are to provide a simple and efficient form of `plug connector which can be used interchangeably in different types of sockets, my invention aiming particularly to provide such a connector which can be used in sockets of either the two wire all insulated or the one wire grounded systems of electrical distribution.

In prior applications of mine, I have disclosed and claimed interchangeable. plug constructions having end contacts forengagement with the contacts of a two wire socket and having a center contact connected with one of the end contacts and a side contact connected with the other one of the end contacts kfor use when the plug is inserted in a one wire socket.

To avoid a ground, when the plug is used in a two wire socket and the side contact is not necessary, the connection between the end Contact and-the side contact was made severable or detachable so that the side contact couldbe ldisconnected from the circuit when the plug was to be used inthe two wire all insulated typev of socket.

A special object of my present invention is to automatically disconnect this grounded side contact from the circuit when the -plug is used in a two Wire socket, and to auutilizing the center contact, which is present in sockets of the one wire type, vas a means for coupling the side contact in circuit, the plug being ,so constructed that normally the side contact will be out of circuit.

As a' result'of thisthe only time that the side contact isin circuit is when it is needed',

that is, when the plugis used in a one wire.

type of socket.-

Specication of Letters Patent.

the side contact of the plug.

of the invention will appear as the specification proceeds.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the lnvention embodied in a practical and preferred form, it Abeing understood however that changes and modifications may be made wlthout departing from the real spirit and scope of the invention. y

VIn the drawing Figurel, is a perspective view of the invention as embodied in the form of a lamp and showing it ready for insertion in a socket constructed to receive it. Fig. 2, is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the use of the invention in a socket of a two wire all insulated type. Fig. 3, is a similar view illustrating the use of the invention in a socket of the one wire or grounded type. Fig. 4, is a detail perspective view illustrating the construction and arrangement of the contacts.

In the particular embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, the plug is shown in the form of a lamp base, the body of which is made up of a shell or sleeve 7 this sleeve being made of metal and constituting On the end of the plug are mounted the end contacts 8 and 9, these contacts constituting in this particular instance lthe terminals of the filament 10, this filament being connected to said contact by feed wires 11 and 12. Also Patented oct. 17, 1916. Application led October 14, 1915.- Serial No. 55,886.

mounted on the end of the plug is a center l contact 15 which comes into use when the plug is used in a socket of the one wire type. This center Contact is connected with one of the end contacts, in the illustration with the contact 9, it being shown as in the form of an integral inwardly extending extension of said end contact.

The side contact is automatically connected in circuit when the plug is used in a socket ofthe one wire typeby means of a grounding contact 17 normally supported out of engagement with thecnd flange 18 of the shell 7 and adapted to be forced by the pressure of the center Contact ofthe one wire socket into contact with said flange. In the illustration this grounding contact is in the form of a spring extension of the end contact 8 extended across the end flange of the shell 7 and normally supported. out of lso contacts, which are disposed on ,oppositeengagement therewith by the layer of .insulating material 19, said insulating material having an opening at the center designated to permit of the-spring contact 17 being forced into engagement with the flange.`

In the illustration the pressurefor forcing the grounding contact into electrical connection with the side contact 'is transmitted from the centerfcontact of the socket through the medium of the center contact 15 ofthe plug and an insulating block 21 in* terposed between said center contact 15 and the grounding contact 17. 4

The several contacts are preferably mounted on an insulating base 22 carried by the end of the plug and the insulating layer 19 which normally 'supports the spring contact out of engagement with the end flange of theshell may be made as a part of this insulating base. This base may be se.- cured to the end flangev of the lshell by fastenings such as screws 23.

In Fig. 1 I have illustrated asocket 27 'of the bayonet slot type much used in automobile lighting systems and have shown the plug provided with a pin 25 for interlocking engagement in the .bayonet vslot l26 in the socket'.

4The use of the invention will be clear from Figs. 2 and 3. In Fig. 2 the plug is shown engaged in a socket 30 ofthe two wire all insulated type having contacts 31 and 32 making engagement with the two end contacts 8 and 9 on the plug. In this case the flow of current `is simply from the socket sides of the center line of the socket to accord with the similar disposition of the plug end contacts and by way of said end contacts and lead wires 11 and 12 through the filament. The spring contact 17 being in this c ase disengaged or disconnected from the side contact, there is no grounding of the circuit at any point. In Fig. 3 the plug is shown used with a socket of the one wire or grounded type, the body 35 of this socket being connected at 36 with the grounded side of the line. `The metallic shell 7 of the plug, contacting with the socket body 35, constitutes in this case the side contact of the plug. The other contactl of the socket is provided by the centrally disposed contact member 37. ,This central contact engages the center contact 15 ofthe plug, thereby establishingelectrical connection for one side ofA the filament, by way of said center contact 15, end contact 9 and feed wire y12and at the same time serves by its pressure', transmitted through the insulating block 21 to carry the springextension ,17 of theother end contact 8 into electrical connection with the end flange of the "side contact. `When thespring contact l17 is thus forced intoelectrical connectioia with the side contact, the return of the current through the grounded side of the l1ne 1s providedfor by reason of the engagement of the side contact with the grounded socket body.

What I claim'" is l 1. In a plug and socket connection, a plug body, end contacts carried by said plug body,

a center contact on said plug body connected with one of said'end contacts, aside Contact on said plug body and means operable upon the insertion of the plug in a socket for automatically connecting one of the endcontacts with said side contact.

2. In a plug and socket connection, a plug body, end contacts carried by said plug body,

on opposite sides of the center thereof, a center .contact connected with kone of said end contacts, a side contact carried by the plug and a spring contact connected with one of the end contacts and adapted to be forced by the center contact intoelectri'cal connection with the side contact. Y 3. In a plug and socket connection, a plug body, end contacts carried by said plug body and disposed on opposite sides of the center thereof, al center contact connected with one of said end contacts, a side contact having a flange extended beneath the center contact, a spring contact connected with one ofthe end contacts and extended beneath theecenter contact and an insulating block interposed between the vcenter contact and said spring Contact adapted upon pressure on the center contact to force said spring contactA into engagement with the flange of the side contact.

4. In a plug and socket connection, a plug body, two end contacts carried by said plug body and disposed on opposite sides of the center thereof, a center contact connected with one end contact, a side contact on the plug body having an end flange extended beneath the center contact, and a contact electrically connected with the other one of the end contacts and extended beneath but insulated from the center contact to be thereby forced by said center contact into electrical engagement with the end flange of the side Contact.

5. In a plug connector, a metal shell having an end flange, an insulating base carried `by said end flange, two end contacts carried the center contact for electrically connectingY side contact on said plug body and a spring the other one of the end contacts With said Contact connected With the other end contact side Contact. and adapted to be vautomatically forced into 10 7. In a. plug and socket connection, a plug electrical engagement With the side contact 5 body, end contacts carried by said plug upon the insertion of the plugin a socket nbody, a center contact on said plug body tended therefor.

y v EDSON B. WILCOX.

connected With one of said end contacts, a-

Copies of this patent may be `obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the ommissioner of vPatents;

Washington, ZD. G. l 

